nada the lily(百合娜达)-第44节

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with　the　wolves。　When　I　had　been　led　before　the　chief　I　saluted　him
and　spoke　to　himthe　words　you　laid　upon　my　tongue　I　told　to　him。　He
listened；　then　laughed　aloud；　and　said：　'Tell　him　who　sent　you　that
the　mouth　of　Dingaan　shall　be　welcome；　and　shall　speak　the　words　of
Dingaan　in　peace；　yet　I　would　that　it　were　the　head　of　Dingaan　that
came　and　not　his　mouth　only；　for　then　Axe　Groan…Maker　would　join　in
our　talkay；　because　of　one　Mopo；　whom　his　brother　Chaka　murdered；　it
would　also　speak　with　Dingaan。　Still；　the　mouth　is　not　the　head；　so
the　mouth　may　come　in　peace。'〃

Now　I　started　when　for　the　second　time　I　heard　talk　of　one　Mopo；　whose
name　had　been　on　the　lips　of　Bulalio　the　Slaughterer。　Who　was　there
that　would　thus　have　loved　Mopo　except　one　who　was　long　dead？　And　yet；
perhaps　the　chief　spoke　of　some　other　Mopo；　for　the　name　was　not　my
own　onlyin　truth；　Chaka　had　killed　a　chief　of　that　name　at　the　great
mourning；　because　he　said　that　two　Mopos　in　the　land　were　one　too
many；　and　that　though　this　Mopo　wept　sorely　when　the　tears　of　others
were　dry。　So　I　said　only　that　this　Bulalio　had　a　high　stomach；　and　we
went　on　to　the　gates　of　the　kraal。

There　were　none　to　meet　us　at　the　gates；　and　none　stood　by　the　doors
of　the　huts　within　them；　but　beyond；　from　the　cattle　kraal　that　was　in
the　centre　of　the　huts；　rose　a　dust　and　a　din　as　of　men　gathering　for
war。　Now　some　of　those　were　with　me　were　afraid；　and　would　have　turned
back；　fearing　treachery；　and　they　were　yet　more　afraid　when；　on　coming
to　the　inner　entrance　of　the　cattle　kraal；　we　saw　some　five　hundred
soldiers　being　mustered　there　company　by　company；　by　two　great　men；

who　ran　up　and　down　the　ranks　shouting。

But　I　cried；　〃Nay！　nay！　Turn　not　back！　Bold　looks　melt　the　hearts　of
foes。　Moreover；　if　this　Bulalio　would　have　murdered　us；　there　was　no
need　for　him　to　call　up　so　many　of　his　warriors。　He　is　a　proud　chief；
and　would　show　his　might；　not　knowing　that　the　king　we　serve　can
muster　a　company　for　every　man　he　has。　Let　us　go　on　boldly。〃

So　we　walked　forward　towards　the　impi　that　was　gathered　on　the　further
side　of　the　kraal。　Now　the　two　great　men　who　were　marshalling　the
soldiers　saw　us；　and　came　to　meet　us；　one　following　the　other。　He　who
came　first　bore　the　axe　upon　his　shoulder；　and　he　who　followed　swung　a
huge　club。　I　looked　upon　the　foremost　of　them；　and　ah！　my　father；　my
heart　grew　faint　with　joy；　for　I　knew　him　across　the　years。　It　was
Umslopogaas！　my　fosterling；　Umslopogaas！　and　none　other；　now　grown
into　manhooday；　into　such　a　man　as　was　not　to　be　found　beside　him　in
Zululand。　He　was　great　and　fierce；　somewhat　spare　in　frame；　but　wide
shouldered　and　shallow　flanked。　His　arms　were　long　and　not　over　big；
but　the　muscles　stood　out　on　them　like　knots　in　a　rope；　his　legs　were
long　also；　and　very　thick　beneath　the　knee。　His　eye　was　like　an
eagle's；　his　nose　somewhat　hooked；　and　he　held　his　head　a　little
forward；　as　a　man　who　searches　continually　for　a　hidden　foe。　He　seemed
to　walk　slowly；　and　yet　he　came　swiftly；　but　with　a　gliding　movement
like　that　of　a　wolf　or　a　lion；　and　always　his　fingers　played　round　the
horn　handle　of　the　axe　Groan…Maker。　As　for　him　who　followed；　he　was
great　also；　shorter　than　Umslopogaas　by　the　half　of　a　head；　but　of　a
sturdier　build。　His　eyes　were　small；　and　twinkled　unceasingly　like
little　stars；　and　his　look　was　very　wild；　for　now　and　again　he
grinned；　showing　his　white　teeth。

When　I　saw　Umslopogaas；　my　father；　my　bowels　melted　within　me；　and　I
longed　to　run　to　him　and　throw　myself　upon　his　neck。　Yet　I　took
council　with　myself　and　did　notnay；　I　dropped　the　corner　of　the
kaross　I　wrote　over　my　eyes；　hiding　my　face　lest　he　should　know　me。
Presently　he　stood　before　me；　searching　me　out　with　his　keen　eyes；　for
I　drew　forward　to　greet　him。

〃Greeting；　Mouth　of　Dingaan！〃　he　said　in　a　loud　voice。　〃You　are　a
little　man　to　be　the　mouth　of　so　big　a　chief。〃

〃The　mouth　is　a　little　member；　even　of　the　body　of　a　great　king；　O
Chief　Bulalio；　ruler　of　the　People　of　the　Axe；　wizard　of　the　wolves
that　are　upon　the　Ghost　Mountain；　who　aforetime　was　named　Umslopogaas；
son　of　Mopo；　son　of　Makedama。〃

Now　when　Umslopogaas　heard　these　words　he　started　like　a　child　at　a
rustling　in　the　dark　and　stared　hard　at　me。

〃You　are　well　instructed；〃　he　said。

〃The　ears　of　the　king　are　large；　if　his　mouth　be　small；　O　Chief
Bulalio；〃　I　answered；　〃and　I；　who　am　but　the　mouth；　speak　what　the
ears　have　heard。〃

〃How　know　you　that　I　have　dwelt　with　the　wolves　upon　the　Ghost
Mountain；　O　Mouth？〃　he　asked。

〃The　eyes　of　the　king　see　far；　O　Chief　Bulalio。　Thus　last　night　they
saw　a　great　chase　and　a　merry。　It　seems　that　they　saw　a　koodoo　bull
running　at　speed；　and　after　him　countless　wolves　making　their　music；
and　with　the　wolves　two　men　clad　in　wolves'　skins；　such　men　as　you；
Bulalio；　and　he　with　the　club　who　follows　you。〃

Now　Umslopogaas　lifted　the　axe　Groan…Maker　as　though　he　would　cut　me
down；　then　let　it　fall　again；　while　Galazi　the　Wolf　glared　at　me　with
wide…opened　eyes。

〃How　know　you　that　once　I　was　named　Umslopogaas；　who　have　lost　that
name　these　many　days？　Speak；　O　Mouth；　lest　I　kill　you。〃

〃Slay　if　you　will；　Umslopogaas；〃　I　answered；　〃but　know　that　when　the
brains　are　scattered　the　mouth　is　dumb。　He　who　scatters　brains　loses
wisdom。〃

〃Answer！〃　he　said。

〃I　answer　not。　Who　are　you　that　I　should　answer　you？　I　know；　it　is
enough。　To　my　business。〃

Now　Umslopogaas　ground　his　teeth　in　anger。　〃I　am　not　wont　to　be
thwarted　here　in　my　own　kraal；〃　he　said；　〃but　do　your　business。　Speak
it；　little　Mouth。〃

〃This　is　my　business；　little　Chief。　When　the　Black　One　who　is　gone　yet
lived；　you　sent　him　a　message　by　one　Masilosuch　a　message　as　his
ears　had　never　heard；　and　that　had　been　your　death；　O　fool　puffed　up
with　pride；　but　death　came　first　upon　the　Black　One；　and　his　hand　was
stayed。　Now　Dingaan；　whose　shadow　lies　upon　the　land；　the　king　whom　I
serve；　and　who　sits　in　the　place　of　the　Black　One　who　is　gone；　speaks
to　you　by　me；　his　mouth。　He　would　know　this：　if　it　is　true　that　you
refuse　to　own　his　sovereignty；　to　pay　tribute　to　him　in　men　and　maids
and　cattle；　and　to　serve　him　in　his　wars？　Answer；　you　little　headman！
answer　in　few　words　and　short！〃

Now　Umslopogaas　gasped　for　breath　in　his　rage；　and　again　he　fingered
the　great　axe。　〃It　is　well　for　you；　O　Mouth；〃　he　said；　〃that　I　swore
safe　conduct　to　you；　else　you　had　not　gone　henceelse　you　had　been
served　as　I　served　certain　soldiers　who　in　bygone　years　were　sent　to
search　out　one　Umslopogaas。　Yet　I　answer　you　in　few　words　and　short。
Look　on　those　spearsthey　are　but　a　fourth　part　of　the　number　I　can
muster：　that　is　my　answer。　Look　now　on　yonder　mountain；　the　mountain
of　ghosts　and　wolvesunknown；　impassable；　save　to　me　and　one　other：
that　is　my　answer。　Spears　and　mountains　shall　come　togetherthe
mountain　shall　be　alive　with　spears　and　with　the　fangs　of　beasts。　Let
Dingaan　seek　his　tribute　there！　I　have　spoken！〃

Now　I　laughed　shrilly；　desiring　to　try　the　heart　of　Umslopogaas；　my
fosterling；　yet　further。

〃Fool！〃　I　said。　〃Boy　with　the　brain　of　a　monkey；　for　every　spear　you
have　Dingaan；　whom　I　serve；　can　send　a　hundred；　and　your　mountain
shall　be　stamped　flat；　and　for　your　ghosts　and　wolves；　see；　with　the
mouth　of　Dingaan　I　spit　upon　them！〃　and　I　spat　upon　the　ground。

Now　Umslopogaas　shook　in　his　rage；　and　the　great　axe　glimmered　as　he
shook。　He　turned　to　the　captain　who　was　behind　him；　and　said：　〃Say；
Galazi　the　Wolf；　shall　we　kill　this　man　and　those　with　him？〃

〃Nay；〃　answered　the　Wolf；　grinning；　〃do　not　kill　them；　you　have　given
them　safe　conduct。　Moreover；　let　them　go　back　to　their　dog　of　a　king；
that　he　may　send　out　his　puppies　to　do　battle　with　our　wolves。　It　will
be　a　pretty　fight。〃

〃Get　you　gone；　O　Mouth；〃　said　Umslopogaas；　〃get　you　gone　swiftly；　lest
mischief　befall　you！　Without　my　gates　you　shall　find　food　to　satisfy
your　hunger。　Eat　of　it　and　begone；　for　if　to…morrow　at　the　noon　you
are　found　within　a　spear's　throw　of　this　kraal；　you　and　those　with　you
shall　bide　there　forever；　O　Mouth　of　Dingaan　the　king！〃

Now　I　made　as　though　I　would　depart；　then；　turning　suddenly；　I　spoke
once　more；　saying：

〃There　were　words　in　your　message　to　the　Black　One　who　is　dead　of　a
certain　mannay；　how　was　he　named？of　a　certain　Mopo。〃

Now　Umslopogaas　started　as　one　starts　who　is　wounded　by　a　spear；　and
stared　at　me。

〃Mopo！　What　of　Mopo；　O　Mouth；　whose　eyes　are　veiled？　Mopo　is　dead；
whose　son　I　was！〃

〃Ah！〃　I　said；　〃yes；　Mopo　is　deadthat　is；　the　Black　One　who　is　gone
killed　a　certain　Mopo。　How　came　it；　O　Bulalio；　that　you　were　his　son？〃

〃Mopo　is　dead；〃　quoth　Umslopogaas　again；　〃he　is　dead　with　all　his
house；　his　kraal　is　stamped　flat；　and　that　is　why　I　hated　the　Black
One；　and　therefore　I　hate　Dingaan；　his　brother；　and　will　be　as　are
Mopo　and　the　house　of　Mopo　before　I　pay　him　tribute　of　a　single　ox。〃

All　this　while　I　had　spoken　to　Umslopogaas　in　a　feigned　voice；　my
father；　but　now　I　spoke　again　and　in　my　own　voice；　saying：

〃So！　Now　you　speak　from　your　heart；　young　man；　and　by　digging　I　have
reached　the　root　of　the　matter。　It　is　because　of　this　dead　dog　of　a
Mopo